The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-12-15

euDJoSsou " !uee1uaA revenue Ca10C1on are,
str1cty speaking, necessary. There appears
to be no just complaint of this taxation by
the consumers of these articles, and there
seems to be nothing 40 we'll able to bear the
burden without hardship to any portion of
the people But our present tariff laws, the
vicious, inequitable, and illogical source Of
unnecessary taxation. ought to be at once
revised and amended These laws, as their
primary aud plain effect, raise the price to
consumers OF all articles imported and sub
1ect to duty, by precisely the sum paid for
such duties Thus the amount of the duty
measures the tax paid by those who purchase
Tor use these imported articles Many OF
these things, however, arera!sed or manu-
factured in our country, and the duties now
levied upon foreign goods and products are
called production to these home manufact-
ures. because they render it possible for
those OF our people who are manufacturers
70 make these taxed articles and sell them
Tor price equal to that demanded for the
imported goods that have paid customs duty.
80 1t happens that while comparatively q few
use the imported articles, millions of our
people, who never use and never saw any Of
me imported products, purchase and use
things OF the same kind made in this country
and pay therefor nearly or quite the same
charged price which the duty adds to the
imported articles. Those who buv Imports
pay the duty charged thereon into the pub
lie treasury, but the great majority of our
~ASAA0Ao WIN Uuy OOu1eHtlC 8rClCleS OF the
same class pay sum at least approximately
equal to this duty to the home manufact-
urer This reference to the operation Of our
tariff laws Is not made by way of instruc-
ton, but in order that we may be constantly
reminded OF the manner in which they
IMPOSE A BURDEN
upon those who consume domestic products
as well as those who consume imported
articles, and thus create a tax upon all orr
~ tn 41~p~
lieve the country of this taxation. 1t must
be extensively continued as the source of
the governments income; and In O readiust-
ment OF our tariff the interests of American
labor. engaged in manufacture should be
carefully considered, as well as the preserva-
zion OF our manufacturers It may be called
protection, or by any other name, but relief
from the hardships and dangers of our pres
emit tariff laws should be devised with espe-
c1al precaution against iulperiling the exist
ence OF our manufacturing interesta But
this existence should not mean O condition
which, without regard to the public welfare
Or national exigency. must always insure
the realization of immense profits instead of
moderately profitable returns As the VOL
ume and diversity of our national activities
increase, new recruits are added to those
who desire continuation Of the advantages
which they conceive the present system of
tariff taxation directly affords them So
stubbornly have all efforts to reform the
present condition been resisted by those of
our fellow citizens thus engaged, that they
can hardly complain of the suspicion, enter
tanned to certain extent, that there exists
line to maintain their advantage. We are In
the midst of centennial celebrations. and
with becoming pride We rejoice in American
skill and ingenuity, in American energy
and enterprise, and in the wonderful
natural advantages and resources developed
Vo< nh
an attempt is made to justify scheme
which permits tax to be laid upon every
consumer in the land for the benefit of our
manufacturers, quite beyond reasonable
demand for governmental regard, it suits
the purposes Of advocacy to call our manu-
highest and greatest degree Of favor and
fostering care that can be wrung from
federal legislation. 1t is also said that the
increase In the price of domestic manufact-
ure resulting from the present tariff is nee
essay es;d IN order that higher wages may be
factories, than are paid for what Is called
the pauper labor Of Europe. All will &C
knowledge the force of an argument which
involves the welfare and liberal compensa-
tion Of our laboring people Our labor is
citizen. As it lays the foundation Of our
Developments and progress, it is entitled,
without affectation or hypocrisy. to the
utmost regard. The standard of our labor
er's life should not be measured by that Of
an other country less favored, and
of all our advantageA By the last
census it il made to appear that Of the
1872. O99 Of our population engaged in all
kinds OF industries, 7,67O.493 are employed
In agrtcu ture, 4,O74, 238 In professional
and personal service (2.944,878 of whom
9re domestic servants and laborers), while
1910, 256 are employed IN trade and trans
portation. and 1897. II are classed as en-
ployed In manufacturing and mining:
THE NUMBER TOO HIGH.
For present purposes, however, the last
number given should be considerably re-
duced. Without attempting to enumerate
oil. it will be conceded that there should be
deducted from these which it includes 375.-
143 carpenters and ioiners, 1885, mill
ners, dressmakers and seamstresses, 172, 726
blacksmtths. 133, 756 tailors and tailoresses,
1O2.4 73 maeons, rs, 241 butchers. Al 800
bakers, 70, OS3 plasterers and 4, 891 engaged
In manufacturing agricultural implements,
leaving 1928, O89 persons employed in
such manufacturing industries as are
claimed to be benefited BY q high tariff.
TO these the appeal is made to save their
employment and maintain their wages BY
resisting change. There should be no dis
position to answer such suggestions by the
allegation that they are in minority among
those who labor, and therefore should fore
60 an advantage, in the interest OF low
prices for the majority; their compensation,
as may be affected by the operation of tariff
laws, should at all times be kept scrupul-
ously In view; and yet. with slight refiec-
ton they will not overlook the fact that they
are consumers with the rest; that they, toe.
have their own wants and those of their
families to supply from their earnings, and
that the price Of the necessaries of life, as
well as the amount of their wages, will re9u-
late the measure of their welfare and COM
fort But the reduction of taxation de-
manded should be 90 measured as not to
necessitate or justify either the loss of en-
PIoyment by the workingman nor the lessen
ingot his wages; and the profits still re-
naming to the manufacturer, after neces-
eary reimbursement should furnish no excuse
Tor the sacrifice of the interests Of his en-
ployee, other In their opportunity to work
or In the diminution of their CONDENSATION.
Nor can the worker In manufactures fail to
understand that while high tariff ID claimed
to be necessary to, allow the payment
OF remunerattve wages, it certainly results
In very large increase In the price Of nearly
oil sorts OF manufactures, which, in almost
countless forms. he noeds for the use of him
self and his family. He receives ut thedesk
OF bis employer his wages, and perhaps BE-
fore he reaches his home 10 Obliged. in a
purchase for family use Of IN article which
embraces hts own labor, to return In the
payment OF the increase in price which the
E0YiM NoFmfSn the harA n~,.~n>...>AS>. -.